Monmouth (3-2, 1-0 CAA) vs. Delaware (4-0, 1-0 CAA)
Saturday, October 5; 1:00 p.m. ET
Kessler Stadium; West Long Branch, NJ
 
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Ticket Information
For tickets click HERE for more information
 
Kessler Stadium Information
For information and directions click HERE

Game Promotions
Join us at Kessler Stadium as we Tackle Cancer presented by RWJBarnabas Health. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a free pink t-shirt courtesy of RWJBarnabas Health.
                          
CAA Clash
Monmouth is back at Kessler Stadium to host unbeaten Delaware in a 1 p.m. kickoff. The Hawks and Blue Hens will meet for the final time as FCS foes as Delaware makes its transition to FBS and Conference USA in 2025.

Offense on Display
Monmouth boasts the nation's top scoring offense (44.2 ppg), leads the FCS in total offense (524.2 ypg), and has the top passing attack (334 ypg). Delaware has been terrific in its own right, ranking in the top 15 in all three categories with 42 points per game (4th), 280.3 passing yards per game (8th) and 436.5 yards of total offense (13th).  

A Win Would ...
Be Monmouth's fourth consecutive victory.
Give Monmouth its first-ever win against Delaware (0-2).
Improve Monmouth to 2-0 in CAA play this year.

The Coaching Matchup
Kevin Callahan
32nd Season / 185-144
 
Ryan Carty
3rd Season / 21-9
 
All-Time Series
Series Record: Delaware leads 2-0
At Monmouth: 0-0
At Delaware: 0-2
Most Monmouth points: 17, 11/05/22
Most Delaware points: 49, 11/05/22
Most combined points: 66, 11/05/22
Biggest Monmouth win: N/A
Current streak: Delaware, W2

Derek's Dominance
Derek Robertson has been exceptional for Monmouth this season, emerging as one of the top quarterbacks in the FCS. He currently leads the nation in passing yards with 1,676, and he ranks first in passing touchdowns with 14. Robertson is also responsible for 84 points, while his passing efficiency rating of 166.5 places him eighth nationally. Robertson is averaging 335.2 yards per game through the air. Robertson tied the program record with his 35 completions at FIU, equaling the effort by Kyle Frazier against Cornell on October 13, 2012. 

Within the CAA, Robertson is leading the conference in all major passing categories, including passing yards, touchdowns, and completions per game. His ability to consistently move the ball down the field has been crucial to Monmouth's high-powered offense, which ranks second in the nation in total offense at 510 yards per game. His 1,496 yards are the most ever for a Monmouth QB over a four-game stretch and Robertson occupies three of the top 10 single-game passing yard totals through his first four performances in a Monmouth uniform.

A Ntoh for the End Zone
Running back Sone Ntoh has found the end zone 26 times in 16 career games for Monmouth following his career-high five TD effort against Fordham. Ntoh has scored at least one touchdown in all but two games over the last two seasons. His 26 rushing touchdowns are tied for eighth in program history along with Jaden Shirden. Ntoh's five touchdowns against the Rams equaled the program record held by David Sinisi and Ralph O'Neill. 

Hot Rod
Sophomore running back Rodney Nelson has made a big impact on the Hawks' rushing attack over the last three games. Nelson has accumulated 375 rushing yards on 53 carries, averaging a CAA-best 7.1 yards per carry, with three rushing touchdowns. He has elevated his game in three straight contests, with new career highs each week. He racked up a career-high 128 yards rushing, including a 34-yard touchdown run against Fordham. At FIU Nelson ran for 117 yards and scored a touchdown, including a career-long run of 59 yards. He also shined in the win at Maine, with 91 rushing yards and another touchdown. Nelson has shown his versatility in the passing game with nine receptions for 77 yards, averaging 8.6 yards per catch. 

Debut Performance
Derek Robertson was excellent in his first game in a Monmouth uniform as he completed 27-of-42 passes and threw for three touchdowns. Robertson's 390 yards passing were the most for a Monmouth quarterback in his first start in program history. The 390-yard total was the most by a CAA passer in week one and is also tied for the sixth-most in a single game in Monmouth history with Brandon Hill, who had the same passing yardage against Lehigh in 2014. When he was the QB at Maine in 2023, Robertson set a career-high with 503 passing yards in a loss at Campbell.

Doubling Down
Derek Robertson followed up his performance in the season opener with another 350-plus yard performance against Lafayette. He totaled 355 yards, marking the first time a Monmouth quarterback has ever thrown for more than 350 yards in consecutive games. Robertson also threw four touchdown passes, all to different receivers, against the Leopards. 

Spreading the Love
Derek Robertson has distributed the ball effectively this season, connecting with a variety of Monmouth receivers. Robertson has completed double-digit passes to six different players and leading the way is Josh Derry, who has emerged as Robertson's primary target, recording 470 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Maxwell James, TJ Speight, Tra Neal and Jack Neri have each scored two touchdowns. In addition, Gavin Nelson has played a pivotal role with 16 grabs for 255 yards and a TD this season. The depth of Monmouth's receiving corps has been instrumental in their ranking as the top passing offense in the FCS, at 334 yards per game.

Tackling Totals
Deuce Lee (12), Sam Korpoi (10), Damir McCrary (8) and Isaiah Rogers (7) each set new career highs in total tackles against Eastern Washington. Miles Mitchell added six tackles to equal his career high, while Alex Odom made eight in his Monmouth debut, giving him more than 200 career tackles after coming over from Temple with 199 stops to his name. In the Lafayette game, Emmanuel Lane led Monmouth with a career-best nine stops. Justin Bennin made a career-best seven stops in the win over Maine.

Critical Conversions
Monmouth's dominance on third and fourth downs is a key reason for the offensive success this season. The 49.2% third-down conversion rate (32-for-65), ranks 10th in the FCS and fourth in the CAA behind Delaware, William & Mary and Hampton. Monmouth converted 11-of-15 on third downs in the win at Maine and was 7-for-12 on third down at Eastern Washington. Additionally, the team leads the FCS with 13 fourth-down conversions, with a 72.2% success rate (13-for-18), highlighted by a 5-for-7 showing at FIU. 

CAA in the Polls
CAA Football has five teams ranked in the latest FCS Top 25 polls. Villanova is ranked #5 by the AFCA and #6 by Stats, William & Mary is #10 by the AFCA and #12 by Stats, New Hampshire is #16 by the AFCA and #21 by Stats, Rhode Island is #20 by Stats and #25 by the AFCA, and Richmond is #21 by the AFCA while receiving votes in the Stats poll. Stony Brook, Monmouth, and UAlbany also received votes in the polls.

Monmouth Against the Coastal Athletic Association
Monmouth is one of 16 current members of the CAA in football, with the new addition of former Northeast Conference opponent Bryant (6-1) in 2024. The Hawks are 33-38 all-time against current CAA opponents. The Hawks also played Stony Brook (7-4) during Monmouth's time as a member of the Northeast Conference. The Hawks are undefeated in two games against Villanova, 1-2 against Rhode Island, 1-4 against Maine and 2-8 against Towson. Monmouth is looking for its first wins opposite Delaware (0-2) and New Hampshire (0-2). 

Campbell Trophy Semifinalist 
Jack Neri has been a reliable target for Derek Robertson this season, catching 13 passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Neri set new career highs with five receptions for 44 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown grab against Eastern Washington. He followed up with four catches for 29 yards and a touchdown at Maine and added four receptions for 37 yards in the win at FIU. Neri was recently named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, an award given to the college football player with the best combination of academics, community service, and on-field performance.

Gone in a Flash
Makhi Green cemented his candidacy for the CAA Special Teams Player of the Week Award on the game's opening kickoff against Fordham when he took it 100 yards to the house for his first-career kickoff return for a touchdown. Green went on to contribute in the punt return game as well with 31 return yards on four attempts. Offensively, Green caught two passes for 12 yards to give him 143 all-purpose yards on the day. 

Sone Stands Out
Sone Ntoh turned in a career day with a team-record tying five rushing touchdowns to lead Monmouth's offensive attack against Fordham, earning him CAA Offensive Player of the Week honors. He totaled a personal career-high of 136 yards on 15 carries, good for more than nine yards a run, and moved into a tie for eighth in MU history with 26 career rushing scores. Ntoh leads the FCS with 12 rushing touchdowns this season and his 14.4 points per game also are the most in the country. 

Clutch Calton
Michael Calton Jr. was selected as the CAA Special Teams Player of the Week following Monmouth's 45-42 victory over FIU, the program's first ever against an FBS opponent. Calton Jr. nailed the game-winning 43-yard field goal with 1:52 remaining to give the Hawks the lead for good. The Manalapan, N.J. native, who was also 6-for-6 on extra points against FIU, hasn't missed a kick all season, going 2-for-2 on field goals of 40+ yards and is 28-for-28 on extra points. 

Batt-Lee-ing to the End 
Deuce Lee was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Week after Monmouth's milestone win at FIU. Lee forced a fumble on the 1-yard line and recovered it with 32 seconds left, securing Monmouth's three-point win. With the Hawks clinging to a field goal lead and FIU driving, Lee stripped Eric Rivers just before he crossed the goal line to complete the biggest upset win in program history. Lee finished with a team-high eight tackles, including five solo stops.

Scary Derry
Sophomore wide receiver Josh Derry was honored by the Coastal Athletic Association as its Co-Offensive Player of the Week after his performance at Maine. Derry was pivotal to Monmouth's offensive success in the Hawks' 51-22 CAA victory, recording seven catches for 227 yards and two touchdowns. His 56-yard touchdown in the third quarter extended the Hawks' lead, while his program-record 94-yard touchdown reception early in the fourth helped seal the win. Derry hauled in the 94-yarder down the left sideline from Derek Robertson and eclipsed Zach Tredway's previous record 92-yard TD catch against Kennesaw State on Nov. 2, 2019. His totals were all new career highs and his 227 yards were the second-most by an FCS receiver in a game this season and ranked fourth in school history. Derry was also an Honorable Mention selection for the Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week award and earned a helmet sticker from Joey Galloway on ESPN's College Football Final. On the year Derry has 23 grabs for 470 yards and four touchdowns. He is third in the FCS in receiving yards per game (117.5) this season.

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